Jaycee4141

Hello, Everybody!
It is my dream to study in the UK , but I need your help!

I kind of have my heart set on going to London , but I’m open to hearing about other cities.

I am a psychology major and a double minor in Theatre and Mass Communications.

I’m planning on being there for the whole academic year, but that’s still up in the air.

In London I would really like to concentrate on Theatre and Mass Com (I just feel like London is the mecca for these areas).

Does anyone know which schools are the best for this?

Here is my school’s study abroad site if it helps United Kingdom

I was concentrating on London Metropolitan University, it seemed to have interesting courses. I read reviews from other study abroad students and it seemed great. However, when I read reviews from UK natives it seemed TERRIBLE. Does anyone have any insights?
I kind of shifted interest to University of Westminster but I don’t know much about this school either. Any insight?

My main goals in studying abroad is to learn theatre and film/tv/broadcasting in what I feel is the best place in the world to do it. Also I REALLY want to meet actual UK citizens not just other international students.

Thanks so much for your help!

cupcake

You're quite unusual as in my experience most study abroad students don't care in any way about the studying part! They just choose their preferred place.

You are right that London Metropolitan university does not have a good reputation in the UK, and I'm not sure that Westminster has an amazing reputation either.

Firstly I'd advise you to google league tables on UK unis. Secondly I'd advise you to look for specific subject league tables for film and theatre (you might want to look for "media studies" as I think that may encompass some of the area you want to study and is a very common course in the UK).

Next you need to find out
-if some of the unis highly rated for your subject are available to you as study abroad
-if such programs are immersion (with regularly enrolled students at the uni) or isolation (no contact other than with other study abroad - probably only American- students. Taught totally separately and live totally separately)

I know nothing about film or theatre! Looking at the website you linked, I note there is an opportunity at uni of Sussex. I would check that out because it's in Brighton, which is known for being very bohemian and alternative, so I would imagine it would be a good place for theatre (not for those of a conservative nature I think though!).

TheRealKEVP

I have a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from an American college, but am considering getting a graduate degree in Theatre, and am seriously looking at UK colleges & unis. I also have spent a lot of my life in England, so in many ways it feels like home to me.

I normally participate in the "Theatre/Drama Majors" forum under "College Majors" and also the "United Kingdom" forum under "International Students". We have some discussions in those two forums that you may find very interesting. I don't usually look at this part of CC.

Have you thought about doing what I am considering, that is, finish your undergraduate degree, then go to London for a graduate degree (what they call "post-graduate"?). Or just go to London for one year and get some really good theatre training during that year?

I have never done "study abroad". But it sounds as though you will NOT be given the opportunity to study at the best theatre programs in London. And also I get the impression that students in "study abroad" just meet other Americans, occasionally running into locals if they go out to the pubs or clubs in the evening. Think about whether this "study abroad" plan is really going to achieve what you want from it.

I think you should research some of the British entertainment people you admire, and see where they got their training. I doubt you will find many from "London Metropolitan University" or "University of Westminster", but I could be wrong.

KEVP

fitzy414

If I was in your situation, and i feel this applies to most looking to Uni in the UK I would consult "thecompleteuniversityguide" online. Am personally from UK and it's the main resource we are advised to use. It's fantastic.

dreaming92

Best theatre/theatre&film courses in the UK:

Birmingham
Goldsmiths
Bristol
York
East Anglia
Exeter
Glasgow?

TheRealKEVP

Ummm, well maybe if you throw "film" into the mix, these are the schools, I don't know. But if you just want to study theatre, there are quite a few theatre courses better than these.

I will repeat my suggestion to study the folks in UK entertainment that you admire, and find out where they got their training.

KEVP

dreaming92

Well I'm obviously not including drama schools, because the OP is studying drama as an academic subject, it appears.

TheRealKEVP

Maybe the OP can clarify. Perhaps they actually want a career in entertainment? I think anyone should look at ALL their options. There are certainly programs that are more career-focused that still give you an academic credential (i.e. a diploma) when you graduate.

If the OP is just interested in learning about drama "academically", and doesn't want a career in entertainment, then yes I think your advice is sound.

KEVP